Leading Introverts and Extroverts: How To and Why It’s Awesome

Ever wondered why some people are all about the group chats and others would rather curl up with a book? Understanding personality types, introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between, can seriously level up your team’s game. Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to be a better coworker, knowing how these personality styles work is a total game-changer.

The Personality Spectrum: Introverts, Extroverts, and Everything in Between

Let’s break it down. Most people fall into two big camps:

• Introverts: These folks are thoughtful, focused, and recharge by spending time alone. They’re the ones who’ll dive deep into a task and nail it.
• Extroverts: The life of the party! Extroverts bring energy, love working with others, and thrive in fast-paced, collaborative spaces.
• Ambiverts: The wildcard. Depending on the situation, they can swing introvert or extrovert. It’s all about context, mood, and energy levels.

No matter where someone lands, personality is a spectrum. Everyone’s got a mix of traits that shift depending on the day or the task.

Start With You: Why Self-Awareness Matters

Before you can lead others, you’ve got to understand yourself. Are you the person who thrives in brainstorming sessions, or do you need quiet time to process?

Here’s how to figure it out:

• Do you get energized by solo work or group chats?
• Are you more of an observer or a jump-right-in kind of person?
• What’s your go-to for recharging after a long day?

When you know your personality style, you can play to your strengths and set yourself up for success.

My Personal Experience

A few years ago, during a coaching session with Biba, she introduced me to different learning styles and how these can work in an environment with diverse personalities. In that session and others that followed, I learned the value of having a diverse team. As someone whose learning style and personality lean toward jumping straight into action, I realized how others’ approaches, more detail-oriented and methodical, can balance mine.

For example, I’m an extrovert, and my learning style is kinaesthetic. I’m the kind of person who learns by doing: trying, failing, and trying again. Back then, I struggled with a coworker who I felt wasn’t meeting expectations. I thought they were holding back every task. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.

This person was a reading learner, someone who needed to read and process every detail before diving in. Once I understood this, everything changed. I began giving them the time and space they needed to process at their own pace, and it was a game-changer. I also realized that having someone like them on the team was all profit. They brought depth and thoroughness that complemented my fast-paced approach.

Next Step: Get to Know Your Team

If you want to lead effectively, understanding your team’s personalities is key. Think about it: How can you set someone up for success if you don’t know what makes them tick?

A few ideas to start by:

• Watching how they work and interact.
• Asking questions to understand their preferences.
• Using tools like personality tests (but don’t go overboard, it’s just one piece of the puzzle).

The goal? Match people’s strengths to the tasks they’re best suited for, and make sure everyone feels valued.

Why Knowing Personalities Is a Big Deal

Here’s the thing: knowing your team’s personalities isn’t just nice; it’s essential.

Here’s why that is important:

1. Set Expectations That Make Sense: Introverts and extroverts shine in different ways. Knowing who’s who helps you assign tasks that play to their strengths.
2. Build Stronger Teams: When people understand and appreciate each other’s differences, you get less drama and more collaboration.
3. Boost Performance: A balanced team that leverages everyone’s strengths? That’s how you win.

Tips for Leading a Diverse Team

Ready to make the most of your team’s personality mix? Here’s how:

1. Switch Up Your Communication Style
   • For introverts: Be clear and detailed in your instructions.
   • For extroverts: Make room for open brainstorming and group discussions.
2. Play to Their Strengths
   • Got a detailed, analytical task? Hand it to an introvert.
   • Need some big-picture ideas? Call in the extroverts.
3. Create a Space for Everyone
   • Balance social activities with quiet work time to keep both introverts and extroverts happy.
4. Encourage Team Understanding
   • Talk openly about personality types so teammates can appreciate each other’s quirks.

Why Diversity Is Awesome

Introverts and extroverts might take different roads, but they’re headed to the same destination: team success. When you bring these perspectives together, you get a team that’s creative, resilient, and ready for anything. Diversity isn’t just about who’s on the team, it’s about celebrating what makes each person unique.

Wrap It Up

Here’s the bottom line: Whether you’re leading a team or just being a good teammate, understanding personalities is the secret sauce to success. So, take a minute to reflect, get to know your team, and start celebrating and empower those differences.

That’s where the magic happens.